Improvement in processes of producing and maintaining a high degree of heat by hydro



M. G. PARKER.

Process of Producing and Maintaining e-High Degree of Heat byHydrocarbon 'Vepor-Blest on Heated .Metal lio Salt-Sponge and Mode ofPreparing the Heating-Case.

No. 205,760. Patented July 9,1878.

UNITED STATES PATENT DFFIOE MOSES G. PARKER, OF LO TVELL, M ASSAGHUSET'IS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES OF PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING A HIGH DEGREE OFHEAT BY HYDRO- CARBON-VAPOR BLAST 0N HEATED METALLIC SALT SPONGE, ANDMODES 0F PREPARING THE HEATING-CASE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 205,760, dated July 9,1878; application filed January 5, .1577.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MOSES G. PARKER, of the city of Lowell, in thecounty of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new anduseful process of burning hydrocarbon vapors for producing andmaintaining various degrees of heat for any useful purpose to which heatmay be applied. This I accomplish by bringing together sponge salts ofthe metals with the hydrocarbons and the preparations from thedistillations of acohol, preferably the oily hydrocarbon vapors.

To carry out my invention, I make a metallic salt sponge by dissolvinginany proper solvent, by any of the approved chemical formula, th metal Ipropose to use, which I precipitate as a salt from its solution, andafterward change by heat or otherwise into a porous, spongy mass. Thus Iobtain the sulphate of iron, the nitrate of silver, the chloride ofplatinum, or any other combination of these or other metals with acid assolvents in the form of a precipitate powder or sponge.

I also make use of the chloride of the several metals. I prefer thesulphur-salts of iron, the chloride of iron, or the sulphate of copperfor the sake of economy, but can use the salts of other metals or ofseveral metals in combition.

Having got my chloride or metallic salt in a somewhat dry state, afterprecipitation or other means of preparation I place it upon sheets ofmetal, or in a perforated or open tube, case, or box, made, preferably,of platinum', because of its known resistance to heat, or of anysuitable substance, and subject it to a high degree of heat,sutl"1cientto deposit the salt sponge on the surface of the tube or sheet of metalor other material in the form of a sponge, and then, if sheets of metalhave been used, I form them into a case or tube; or I pack a tube ofmetal or other material as tightly as possible with a metallic sponge orsalt such as I have described. Having thus prepared my tube, or box, orcase, so that I can do so, I force through, over, and on, in contactwith metallic salt sponges contained in them, by any suitable mechanicalor other means, air or oxygen gas which has been forced through, mixed,or impregnated with hydrocarbon, and apply heat to any part of my caseor tube, bringing it to redness; and by keeping up my stream of air thusimpregnated I secure a very high degree of heat in the part containingthe metallic salt or sponge, which may be increased by increasing thevelocity of the current of impregnated air or oxygen. The degree of heatis limited only by the fusing-point of the salt or sponge metal used.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a view, inperspective; Fig. 2, a detached longitudinal sectional view; and Fig. 3,a cross-section on line x .t', Fig. 2, of a modified detail of one kindof apparatus by which my invention may be car-ried into effect A is atapering case, preferably made of platinum, and provided at or near itsapex with one or more holes or outlets for the escape of hot gases, aswill hereinafter more fully appear. B is a hollow tube or pipe,removably connected to the rear end of the case A, and communicating, bymeans of the flexible joint b, with the hydrocarbon-reservoir O.

The reservoir 0 is provided with an opeir ing, closed by ascrew-stopper, 0, through which it may be charged with any suitablehydrocarbon, and has an opening, (1, near its base, through which astream of air or oxygen may be forced into the liquid hydrocarbon bymeans of the flexible rubber pump D. The pump D has an inlet-opening,(1, near its base, through which a stream of air or oxygen may be forcedinto the liquid hydrocarbon by means of the flexible rubber pump D. Thepump D has an inlet-opening, d, at its upper end, closed by a drop orother suitable valve, and is in all essentials the same as is usuallyemployed in atomizing and other like instruments.

The apparatus I have shown is more particularly applicable to thepurposes of thermocautery, as practiced in surgery, though I do not wishto be understood as confining myself to this single use of my invention,for it is plainly capable of being employed for many purposes and in thearts.

In making my apparatus, I first prepare a saturated platinic solution bydissolving the metal in a mixture of two parts of muriatie acid and onepart of nitric acid. To this solution I add a saturated aqueous solutionof sal-ammoniae, and after collecting, washing, and drying the powderyprecipitate of platinie chloride which is thus formed, I mix with itabout five per cent. of powdered sulphate of iron, this latter saltinsuring the more certain adherence of the mixed powder to the sides ofthe case A and to the scraps in the case A when subjected to heat. I nowcharge the case A with the mixed powder just mentioned and with smallscraps of platina. After this case has been filled with the powder andscraps it is submitted to a high degree of heatless, however, than wouldmelt common iron under like circumstances-which causes the metals(platinum and iron) contained in the mixed powder to adhere to theinside of the ease and to the scraps of platinum filling the case in thecondition of a spongy, porous mass.

Instead of filling the powder directly into the case, it may be spreadupon the surface of sheets of platinum, heated to a like high degree ofheat, so as to cause the adherence of the salts to the surface, asabove. The prepared sheets of platinum are then rolled up intocylindrical or tapering coils to conform to the contour of the case, andplaced within the case, the appearance of which, when so charged, beingplainly indicated by Fi 3. In either event, after having fi1led'i. 6.,preparedthe case, it is attached to the hollow tube I and heated at somepart of it to a moderate red heat by a lighted match, or other suitablemeans, externally applied, the pump 1) being at the same time operated,forcing a current of air r oxygen up through the hy drocarbon within thereservoir 0, and thence through the tube B into the rear of the case Aand into it. The air, impregnated with the hydrocarbon vapors, isminutely disseminated in passing through the porous mass contained inthe case to the escape-vents at its apex. Under these conditions a veryhigh degree of heat results so long as the pump is operated. After thetube has been heated to redness at any part of it the heat is kept up bythe action of the pump, forcing the air mixed with the hydrocarbon vaporthrough the case, prepared as above described. The only precautionnecessary is that the heat shall not be carried to a point so high as tomelt the metallic mass with which the case is charged or lined. In suchan event the apparatus will cease to operate, and the case must bereprepared.

Some economy is obtained by placing over the tube or caselhave describeda closed case, made of ordinary sheet-platina, which does not fit theperforated case-"i. 0., the inner or prepared caseso tightly as toprevent the circulation of the escaping gases through the fine holes inthe end of the inner case between the two cases.

Having thus described my invention so that others may use the same, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described process of produc' ing high temperatures byforcing a current of air impregnated with hydrocarbon vapors through ametallic salt sponge, some part of which had been previously heated toredness, as herein set forth.

2. The mode of preparing the heating-case for the hydrocarbon-vaporblast, which consists in charging the case with an adherent metallicsalt sponge, with or without the commixture of a suitable scrap topromote adhesion and the free passage of the blast, as hereinbefore setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

MOSES G. PARKER.

\Vit-nesses:

ADELBERT AMEs, PAUL BUTLER.

